The German Kampfgruppe Peiper attack through the Ardennes Forest in December 1944.

The German column crossed a bridge and approached an American fuel dump. The German force consisted of an armored car, two PZIV's, two PZV's and a King Tiger, the armor was accompanied by a platoon of German armored infantry riding on tanks and in half tracks. The defending Americans had a scratch force of infantry, machine guns, a M4A3E8 tank and an M8 armored car. T The American's plan was simple to delay the German column using one squad or tank at a time making the Germans stop and deal with each new threat. The Germans had bad luck right from the start when the King Tiger broke down as it came off the bridge. The Americans then used both flanks and at one point had a half of squad behind the German Advance. That half squad destroyed two enemy squads with a surprise attack on the enemy at close range (under 4"). This seesaw attack-defend-counterattack went back and forth for 10 turns. The Germans would advance, then an American unit would open fire, the German's would stop and attack and destroy the US unit, then move on at which point an another US unit would open fire on the German advance from a different position, repeating the cycle.

The US force could not take the loses at this rate with out help. That help was reinforcements of two Sherman M4A3, an M5 Light tank and an M10 Tank Destroyer. The arrival of this force was fortunate as the only American tank, an M4A3E8, had been hit and destroyed. The German advanced taking out the M10 TD and a M4 another infantry squad. Moving up more infantry and the armored car to attack an American bunker. Accurate 60mm mortar fire and a battery of 105mm howitzers provided support when needed reducing the German infantry to one squad which was being held in reserve. It was a near thing though with the Germans getting to the gate of the fuel depot, but several well aimed, or timed shots took out both of the German PZVD's. In the end it was an American Victory. Moderator, Matt Sherman: Rules, G.I.

Played two games of coastal 1/600 navel tonight. We used Flaklighter Rules with some modifications to rule rules. The modifications were primarily to movement and added damage from nearby exploding ships. We based our movement on hexes rather than using rulers and turn gauges. This does speed the game up there is less clutter on the table. The co-lateral damage from nearby exploding ships make everyone a little wary of getting in to close for the kill and provides a little satisfaction you were able to get a last lick in on your opponent as you boat goes up in pieces.

First Game
A German freighter being escorted by two Minenbotten had to exit the table between two islands. The Allied attackers had two PT boats, two MBT's and an armed trawler. From the beginning the Allies realized they were up against tough boats. The Germans had larger and longer ranged guns opposed by the smaller MBTs and PT boats. Both MBT boats were sunk by gunfire from the Germans while the armed trawler lobbed shots in from long range at the Germans. A PT boat skirted an island and coming in on the German port side fired a torpedo into one of the Minenbotten. The German sank as the torpedo explosion broke the ship in half. The other minnedbotten was ahead of the freighter and had only the stern gun to shoot at the PT boat. The PT commander launched three torps at the freighter at point blank range. He couldn't miss! The PT boat captain stared in utter disbelief as all three torpedoes hit the hull of the freighter and failed to explode. He had failed to consider that this was 1940 and the torpedoes were American. Three duds! At this point the Allies withdrew to German cheers. Victory German, Moderator None

Players

Germans

Warren Peterson

Allen Barton

Cliff

Allied

Terry Callahan

Cliff Martin

Second Game

A flotilla of two PT boats and two MBTs were escorting two coastal trawlers through the Channel Islands on a re-supply mission. The Germans knowing attacked the British convoy with four E Boats. The E Boats made up for the lack of heavy armament with speed. The E-Boats had a top speed of 42 knots, which could run rings around the Brits. A German boat was lost right away to enemy gunfire concentrating on one boat. The other boats sped up and went into close attack. Another boat was lost when as it swung around hit one of the British MBT's. The third boat having been hit in the rudder slowed to avoid going out of the battle while a British boat begin it had similar problems. Both boats resumed the attack at the same time and it was a race to see who would reach the convoy first. The British perceiving that this was the greatest threat concentrated all their fire on the one E-boat returning to the battle. Meanwhile the last boat moving at 42 knots attacked both trawlers. The British were open mouthed with awe at the boat as it slipped between both coastals moving at 40 plus knots and firing all guns. It was at this point one coastal slowed and sank, and the German #4 Boat swung around to have another go at the remaining ship. It was at this point the returning E Boat was caught in the British gunfire and was sunk. The German Flot Commander decided it was better to retire and claim victory with one British a MBT and a trawler sunk. Not so said the English commanders: Victory British, No Moderator.

All in all the action was quite enjoyable from the Union perspective. Joe has retained his talent for critical "snake-eye routs". (Two in a row during the climax of his attack delayed the decision by four or five turns.) Terry remains an expert at rolling miserable fire combat at critical moments. (Tripled musket fire from a 600 man regiment only to roll a 'four' for effect.)

Terry Callahan has spent considerable time building the armies from the Battle of Shiloh and his choice of 6mm figures promises to really enhance the sense of a corps command with Johnny Reb (2.5)

Fresh off a swift victory the week before, Union forces in Corps strength pushed to force the crossings of
Peterson's Creek. Opposing them was a smaller Confederate Corps. Opposing forces totaled some 18,000 against 11,000. Neither side was certain of the condition of the fords, so the initial stages of the battle saw a headlong rush for the opposite banks to identify crossing points. A bridge carried the main road cross the creek on the Union right at Warren's Mill and the Confederate moved to block the Federal advance there. The Confederates were outgunned in terms of both artillery and rifles (The Union troops were equipped with breech loading rifles, courtesy of effective die rolls by Terry and Warren.), and the Confederate commander on the left held his ground at great loss. When that bridge was inevitably taken, the Rebels had one less brigade and the Union had suffered only modest losses.

On the Federal right, the opposite bank was heavily wooded and the only two fords in the vicinity crossed there. The Confederates had managed to get a Division into the area and hastily formed defenses just inside the forest. Union firepower and numbers once again held sway, although the Confederates gave as good as they got, especially as Union regiments charged across the fords into concentrated musket fire. A brigade-size chargefinally succeeded in driving a hole into the woods which threatened to provide an avenue into the Confederate center.

Just arrived on the battlefield, however were two elite Confederate brigades one of which stabilized the Confederate line on the left, about 500 yards from the bridge, inflicting serious casualties on the Federals advancing from there. The second brigade had formed and was advancing toward the trees on the Confederate right as night fell.

The battle was declared a stalemate at nightfall. The Federals had secured at least two crossing points, and contested a third, but the Confederates still held the major road junctions. Casualties numbered about 1,500-2,000 on each side. Terry and Warren conducted able assaults in difficult situations, on the bridge and against the woods, respectively. The novice commander on the Confederate left, Cliff showed his mettle and learned a few things as he stood in the face of superior firepower. Joe commanded the Confederate right and conducted a tenacious defense in the woods, and Pat served as the commander of the reinforcing column, directing his brigades to critical positions with celerity. Moderator: None Victory:Draw

All day game at Pat McGarrity's house, began at Noon and finished up around 11:00 P.M.. Play ended around 9:00 p.m. and a discussion ensued centered around the events of the last week.

Played Johnny Reb again tonight. A meeting engagement of a Union and Confederate forces. Each side was division strength moving up the road. Without cavalry to scout each was blind to the location of the enemy. Rebels set up a 12# Napoleon in the road that dominated the center of the battle and prevented the Union force to advance up the road to engage the Confederates. A US brigade used cover attempted to outflank the rebels on the left and charged the Rebs before they had set up defensive positions. The lead regiments lost the charge roll and routed back through the line taking another with and disordering another regiment in the process. The disaster on left prevented the Union commander from getting into a position of strength for the rest of the game. At one point an attempt to hit the Rebs when they were forming ended in a melee between an eight man regiment and a 28 man regiment.
Victory Confederate, no moderator. I won't put the pictures in the battle report as many are taken of other parts of the battle.
Rebel Regiments Forming on the right.41st Illinois moving up.CS Troops advancing through the orchard.Union Line.Battle on the Union Right.

The M4 Sherman on the German right began to gang up on the Panthers taking out another two Panthers. The American FO called in smoke on their left and advanced on the town. A melee ensued and leaving several M4's and a half-track destroyed. The German's were being pressed hard and lost two more PZV's. At this point the German commander ordered a withdrawal and conceded the town and the battle to the Americans. Victory; US moderator: Terry Callahan Rules: Mien Panzer (modified).

American

Kevin Watson

Cliff Martin

Sean Richie

German

Joe Shaffer

Kelli Richie

Annon Gross

Warren Peterson

Game Two

Second Game was a 1/600 Coattail Naval Game using FlakLighter Rules. In this night engagement The British had a Isle Class trawler patrolling in the center. Two other small flotillas moving up on each side. The Germans were attempting to supply an island base.

Sightings were made by both sides and gunfire was immediate. The fast moving boats, up to 42 knots, accelerated to full speed to gain advantage and position for torpedo launches. A collision in the darkness between a German Schnellboot and a British MBT Fairmile D result in heavy damage to both boats. The British gunners opened up their light weapons raking the boats from bow to stern. Tracers exploded a depth charge on the stern of the German boat which both boats and damaged several others. This was to be the only loss for the Brits. The German lost another Schnellboot that was attempting to support the ferries carrying the supply. The ferries narrowly missed a salvo of six torpedoes launch by three British MBT's. The ferries went on to supply the island base and the British boats drew to their base. Victory German, Moderator Warren Peterson.

A Confederate charge failed to route the Yankees while gunfire in the woods left both sides with less than one squad left apiece.
The Union moved its cannon over next to the farm house and waited for the final Confederate attack. It came with a volley of rifle musket fire. The Union passed their morale check and round of canister sealed the pies fate in favor of the Union. No moderator, Victory Union

On Confederate Left at battle of attrition was taking place with the CS troops getting the worse of the fight. Two 10# Parrot batteries and a battery of 20# Parrott rifles began to hit the exposed flanks of several Rebel regiments. One regiment routed when it couldn't take anymore. Another regiment seeing this decided to leave the battlefield too. The US commander was readying his Brigade to advance and wheel right to collapse the Confederate flank when disaster struck the Union Right!

The Confederates moving slowly in the broken terrain of the ridge charges a regiment supported by two others into the Union lines. Three regiments broke and ran at this attack running away and leaving the Union Left hanging in the air without support. While disaster was occurring three US regiments were in the rear of the Union Left Flank countering two CS cavalry regiments sent to harass the Union rear.

The remaining CS Cavalry was holding out against a US Brigade. The US commander was called away and his replacement was closing the noose the previous commander had prepared. These rebel cavalrymen were not getting away.

At this point the battle was called. Though the Union held the objective it's left flank was in shambles. Minor Union Victory, No moderator.

I am pleased to report the rescue of the disabled U-boot, U-141 along with its crew and passengers. In addition to the rescue of the stricken submarine my task force was able to severely damage and sink several British vessels. The enemy vessels were encountered during rescue operations, and I believe they were seeking to capture our submarine. I do not know how they were able to determine the status and location of our submarine in so short a time. A brief account of my encounter with the British Navy is provided for your information.

Upon notification of my orders, I immediately set to sea with a task force consisting of two Elbing Class Destroyers (T22 and T23), and two Wolf Class Destroyers (Wolf and Iltis). We made good speed towards the last know position of U-141 arriving at the search zone early in the morning. Conditions were calm with hazy overcast skies.

As we closed on the drifting U-141, my radar picked up an enemy force closing on our position from the west. I immediately placed all ships on alert and prepared for action. Our spotters reported British vessels consisting of two Flower Class Corvettes (Crocus and Oxlip), two Clemson Class Destroyers (Belmont and Chesterfield) and one Hunt Class Destroyer (Artherstone). Based on my observations, the British were having difficulties in spotting my force. They did not make course corrections as anticipated, but steamed directly towards us.

At approximately 0600 hours, we engaged the enemy vessels. Destroyers T22 and T23 opened fire at approximately 2,000 yards. Their main target was the Artherstone. Several hits were scored and return fire from the enemy ship damaged T23. Several more rounds of gunfire resulted in both ships taking damage. Flooding started on T22 and T23 suffered damage to its engine room. Several fires were noticeable on the Artherstone. The crew of U-141 also contributed to its defense by firing the submarine's deck guns.

As the two destroyer forces closed on each other, the Belmont and Chesterfield launched several torpedoes directly at my force. I likewise ordered a torpedo launch. Gunfire continued to be exchanged as my ships maneuvered to protect U-141. More hits were registered on all ships.

What occurred next can only be described as extremely courageous or stupid. I think that the Captains of the Belmont and Chesterfield must have received severe injuries in the battle. From their incapacitated state they were unable to order needed course corrections, and steamed directly towards T22. Captain Fritz on T22 turned broadside to rake the enemy vessels with fire. He fired all guns at point blank point range, while the Chesterfield cut across its bow. The Belmont now rammed T22 midship. The resulting collisions wrecked havoc on all ships. Flooding and fires started. T22 and Belmont sank.

Torpedoes that had been launched earlier by both forces now found their targets. The Chesterfield was struck and a huge explosion occurred. The Artherstone also received a hit. Both ships were sunk. In turn, T23 received a torpedo hit and sank. A torpedo also sank the Oxlip. At this point, U-141 radioed that it had repaired and restarted its engines. The Crocus attempted to close on U-141 but shots from the Iltis changed her Captain's mind. The British vessel withdrew. The submarine was then escorted home.